Anti-Islam filmmaker who ‘has every reason to disappear’ jailed in US

A federal judge has jailed the California man thought to be behind the anti-Islam film which caused riots, violence and dozens of deaths across the Middle East and Asia, pointing to the Egyptian-American’s ‘lengthy pattern of deception’.

US Central District chief magistrate Judge Suzanne Segal jailed Nakoula Basseley Nakoula after reports that he broke a probation order from 2010 conviction.

‘The court has a lack of trust in this defendant at this time,’ Ms Segal said.

He is also accused of lying to his probation officers, using aliases, and using the internet without permission, which was forbidden under the terms of his 2010 conviction for bank fraud.

Assistant US attorney Robert Dugdale said Mr Nakoula was flight risk, partially because of the uproar over the film.

‘He has every incentive to disappear,’ Mr Dugdale said.

Mr Nakoula says he was only involved in logistics and management on the anti-Islam film (Photo: AP/Mona Shafer Edwards)

The story behind Mr Nakoula and the film, titled the Innocence of Muslims, is still not known, and the 55-year-old has so far only admitted being involved in the logistics and management of the project.

But prior to his arrest the outcry had forced Mr Nakoula into hiding, and there are reports that he has put his home up for sale after a Pakistani minister offered $100,000 for anyone who would kill the film’s maker.

When the short YouTube film was picked up by Egyptian TV earlier this month it led to riots in multiple Asian cities and is linked to terrorist attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan and Benghazi, Libya.